Former President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI and Homeland Security, to “rebuild and open Alcatraz” as a maximum‑security facility for the nation’s most violent offenders. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump lamented that in “times past” the U.S. “did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm.”
Alcatraz Island, famous for once incarcerating notorious gangsters such as Al Capone, served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 until its closure in 1963. Since then, it has operated as a popular national recreation area managed by the National Park Service, drawing over a million visitors each year. Trump’s proposal envisions a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” prison complex, though he offered no details on budget, timeline or legal authority.
Speaking to reporters upon returning to the White House from Florida, Trump downplayed the logistical hurdles, describing the plan as “just an idea I’ve had” that he decided to act on. In reality, reopening Alcatraz would require extensive environmental reviews, congressional approval for funding, and complex coordination between multiple federal agencies—none of which have indicated support for the project.
Critics argue the proposal is largely symbolic, pointing out that modern corrections policy favors rehabilitation over isolation, and that upgrading existing facilities would be far more cost‑effective. Nonetheless, Trump’s call taps into a long‑standing political narrative around “tough on crime” rhetoric, and it remains to be seen if any serious steps will follow beyond his Truth Social announcement.
